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Mountain bikers unhappy despite logging delay<\/h2>\n
Oct 31 2011 4:06 p.m.
\nPublication: ph02112011<\/p>\n
Mountain bikers in Belmont Regional Park are pleased a proposed logging operation has been postponed but are unhappy at the absence of a commitment to rebuild tracks that it will destroy.<\/p>\n
Petone\u00c2\u00a0Herald reported (October 19) that Greater Wellington Regional Council will fell\u00c2\u00a0stands of pine trees from an area near Stratton St in the Korokoro\u00c2\u00a0valley. The felling will mean the closure and probable destruction of five mountain bike tracks built over the last 15 years by members of the Belmont Area Mountain Bike Association (Bamba).<\/p>\n
However, just before Labour weekend the council announced the felling operation had been delayed until February 2012, so it could have more time to consider public feedback.<\/p>\n
In a media statement the council\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s social and cultural committee chairman Nigel Wilson said the public needed to have confidence that issues raised in the consultation process will be addressed. The delay in the start of logging will enable the public \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and mountain bikers \u00e2\u20ac\u201c to use the park over summer. However, the logging still had to happen.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Logging operations are by their very nature disruptive,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Mr Wilson. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The pines were planted in order to be logged and now that they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re mature they risk being toppled by the wind.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Bamba president Tyrone McGrath says his group is realistic and knows the pines have to come down.<\/p>\n
But members are unhappy at the loss of five tracks and the lack of a commitment from<\/p>\n
Greater Wellington to have them reinstated.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Basically, we want the entire track network reinstated.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He says the group has a good relationship with Greater Wellington and the park ranger. Butfinding out what is happening has proved a problem<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We need some hard information.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
In summer the group\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s tracks are busy with bikers, runners and walkers. But come February they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll all have to go somewhere else as the chainsaws arrive and trees start crashing down.<\/p>\n
Mr McGrath says Bamba understands if the trees are not felled, they will become a safety hazard to park users – including his members.<\/p>\n
The real issue, he says, is replanting afterward.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re hell bent against them replanting in pines. We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to go through this in again in the future.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the group also faces the possible loss of a track they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve just built. Bamba\u00c2\u00a0secretary Paul Scoble says club members, helped by BNZ\u00c2\u00a0staff have spent 245 hours over the last three months building the Bull-a-Varde track. But the logging operation will mean the main access to the track will be unusable, while the western section of the track could also be closed for safety reasons.<\/p>\n
How long before the bikers can return to their favourite tracks once the logging is finished is anyone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s guess. But even if the area is replanted, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be years before it looks like a natural environment.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, bikers say they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll have to find somewhere else, such as the Wainuiomata trail park, to enjoy their favourite recreation.<\/p>\n
Greater Wellington spokeswoman Elizabeth King says it does not anticipate any discharges into the Korokoro stream from the logging, as sediment control measures will be put into place. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153GW Parks will be applying to GW Environmental Regulation for consent to undertake the culvert replacement that is required for the operation to proceed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Before logging can start forestry roads will have be built. The logging will also require consents from Hutt City Council. They will be applied for in late November.<\/p>\n
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